Girls' Wellbeing
One of the standout results in WA’s inaugural Speaking Out Survey of 2019 was that female young people consistently rated their wellbeing below that of their male peers, reporting higher rates of stress, low life satisfaction and not feeling happy about themselves.
In response to this, the Commissioner’s office conducted a literature review of evidence from national and international research into gender and wellbeing. The results of the Speaking Out Survey 2021 have also since confirmed the findings of a significant gender wellbeing gap for children and young people in WA.
Government, the non-government sector and the WA community must work together to address the challenges facing many female children and young people.
A key aspect of this process is listening to female children and young people and hearing their concerns and worries.
In 2022, the Commissioner’s office will further explore girls’ wellbeing and the gender wellbeing gap by:
- conducting additional analysis of the Speaking Out Survey data
- consulting with children and young people
- working closely with two advisory committees
- developing the Young Aboriginal Researchers in Community program to empower young Aboriginal women in the Goldfields to develop research skills and support them to conduct peer-research.
Girls' Wellbeing Survey
Presenting the findings from the Girls’ Wellbeing Survey.
The ‘Speaking out about girls’ wellbeing’ report presents the findings from 938 children and young people in WA who participated in the anonymous online Girls’ Wellbeing Survey in 2022.
This report focused on four contributors to the wellbeing of female young people: self-esteem, the transition from primary to high school, belonging and gender inequality.
Download the 'Speaking out about girls' wellbeing' report by clicking the button below.
Speaking out about girls' wellbeing report
Girls’ wellbeing report
Girls’ wellbeing: Insights from the 2021 Speaking Out Survey
This report provides a detailed analysis of WA girls’ wellbeing using the SOS21 quantitative and qualitative data. The voices of female children and young people provide a critical insight into their views and experiences. This report should inform a critical focus on girls’ wellbeing in government and non-government policies, programs and services. It also highlights the urgent need for social and cultural change in our community more broadly.
Girls’ wellbeing: Insights from the 2021 Speaking Out Survey
Students’ wellbeing during school transitions
Students’ wellbeing during the primary to secondary school transition – A literature review
The Commissioner contracted Edith Cowan University (ECU) to conduct a literature review on school transitions with a particular focus on research considering gender differences. This report found:
- Girls often find the transition to high school more challenging than boys across multiple areas of their life.
- There has been little focus on researching these important gender differences during school transitions.
- It is recommended that school transition practices and programs involve children and young people in their design and implementation and the creation of gender-differentiated programs be considered.